loved the movie, but please explain the end

Rating: 10/10 (16 August 2002)

I loved this movie, especially the piano playing scenes (the ballroom, the duel, the recording). I've never seen a film that shows a personality so integrated with its music and art.
Spoiler follows.
I'd appreciate some insights on the ending. It was a bit unsettling to me. I appreciated 1900's speech, but don't really understand why he felt so strongly about leaving the ship that he'd rather be dead. We all face endings in the middle of our lives. Layoffs after 25 years at the same job. Loss of a spouse after decades of marriage. Yet we move on. We are scared, but start over anyway.
After experiencing tens of thousands of people on the ship, how could he not have an interest in learning more, or in continuing to share his music? Was his fear THAT great? Why would he choose death?
And what was the meaning of the story about the two right arms?
Any input?